Chicago Suburban Mayors Back Gay Marriage Legislation

GENEVA, Ill. - Seven mayors from the Chicago suburbs are signing on in support of same-sex marriage legislation.

The group of largely nonpartisan officials from Kane, DuPage, DeKalb, and Kendall counties are releasing a letter Tuesday through gay marriage advocacy group Illinois Unites for Marriage. They say same-sex couples and their families are suffering because they are denied full protections under Illinois law.

Same-sex marriage legislation passed the state Senate in February but has not been called for a vote in the House.

Activists are targeting moderate suburban Republicans as well as socially conservative members of the largely Democratic House Black Caucus to get the 60 votes needed.